Build update: The Floating Life explorer K42

2 January 2018 15:15

New-Build

Written byGeorgia Tindale

Construction on the second custom model of Floating Life's K-Series - the K42 - is in full swing at the Cantiere Delle Marche Shipyard in Italy.

The build of the one-off 42-metre K42 custom superyacht, owned by and created in partnership with Floating Life, was secured by the Italian shipyard Cantiere delle Marche in January 2017, with a separate build team from the shipyard working on the construction of this sub 500 GT project.

The second K-Series unit is a five-deck yacht, 42.8 meters long, with a maximum beam of 9.4-metres. In her current state, the 42-metre explorer yacht now has a completed hull, her deck structures are almost all in position and the installation of her onboard systems has begun. The Italian yard has also begun hull verification in preparation for painting.

The naval architecture behind K42 has been developed by Studio Hydrotec, with Studio Sculli having designed the exterior and interior areas, and she is expected to be ready for delivery by the end of 2018. When she is launched, K42 will become the shipyard’s sixth yacht over 100 feet.

Designed and built as an explorer concept, the motor yacht K42 is a custom model which boasts a 5,000 nautical mile range at 10 knots for cruising in seas in all corners of the world. Every client of Floating Life's K-series can choose between completely custom superstructures, interior layouts, finishings and décor.

As part of this K-Series from Floating Life - which includes the flagship vessel K40 - the stucco for the K42 will be 4mm thick, instead of the more typical width of 10 to 20 mm, thus giving the explorer a much trimmer appearance and a more homogeneous hull.

Following the new production philosophy developed by Floating Life for this series, the K-Series hull was created using a sophisticated hydrodynamic computer program and then tank tested at Goteborg (SSPA). The overall height of the vessel is 5.8-metres with a 2.8-metre draft at full load.

As evident from the renderings, the K42 features resolute and aggressive lines. On board, the K42 is filled with innovative features like the immense beach club on the lower deck that can be completely soundproofed.

In addition, the 50m2 bathing platform astern features a secondary extendable platform. The 170m2 aft deck transforms into a cinema or a partially sheltered open-air disco, as well as two interior salons and an outdoor dining area that can seat up to 14 guests.

Conceived as an exclusive owner’s deck, the almost 75m2 upper deck includes the owner’s cabin, two bathrooms, a spacious salon and a jacuzzi on a private terrace facing aft.

The upper deck holds the skipper’s quarters which communicate directly with the bridge. The bridge itself features an integrated instrument panel with navigation and communication systems usually only found on 60-metre long yachts.

The K42 offers generous onboard spaces, as evident from the aft section of the main deck which is capable of holding an 11-metre tender. The main deck continues with a spacious living zone and two guest cabins, both of which feature their own bathrooms. As requested by the owner, a 6-metre tender, a jet ski and an SUV are also accommodated forward. Launch and recovery of the tenders are by two large cranes, similar to those used by northern ocean supply vessels.

Below decks on board the K42, you find two double cabins, with crew quarters located at the bow. The space below the lower deck is used for a large engine room, considerable storage space, the night generator area and a control room. Forward, is located the laundry, wine cellar and cold storage.

To see the K42 explorer yacht being moved to her final build shed in Italy, check out this video.

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